Traffic signal



c. F. KELLERMAN TRAFFIC SIGNAL fFiled Deo. 1,

July l?, i923.

may a7, i923. www@ C. F. KELLERMAN TRAFFIC SIGNAL,4

Filed Dec. l, 1921 2 Sheets-Shoeet 2 Patented duly 17, 1923.

i arrA CHARLES F. KELLERMAN, or' BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL.

Application Vfiled December 1, 1921. Serial No. 519,246. y

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES FrKnLLnR- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'Iraffic Signals; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention-relates to signal means designed most especially for motor vehicles and intended to be applied to the left hand side thereof for indicating a left turn which is :it all times attended with a greater or less ris The invention provides a signal which may be easily and conveniently manipulated when the curtains are drawn or the vehicle is closed without subjecting the occupants to inclement weather or cold drafts of air.

The' invention provides a signal which is operable day or night, being illuminated after dark and clearly observable during' the day or night so as to prevent a casualty when making a left turn.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves as the nature of the invention is understoo While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the inventionit is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changeslin the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application,

Figure l is a side view of a signal embodying the invention, showingthe same in operative position and retracted,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l, the signal being projected,`

Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section,

Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1, looking to the right,

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1, looking to the left,

Figure 6 is a detail view illustrating the cross head of the casing, and

Figure 7 is a detail view of the tube.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The signal comprises a tube l which may be of any determinate length and diameeter. A longitudinal slot 2 is formed in a side of the tube l and has its outer end portion 2a odset ninety degrees whereby to impart a one-quarter turn to the signal when projected. Opposite end portions of the longitudinal slots are connected by means of an inclined slot 2b` which forms in effect a part of the slot. Similar or like vclips 3 are provided at opposite ends of the tube l and constitute means whereby the signal is adapted to be attached to the windshield or other convenient portion of thevehicle. In the present instance, the-clips Sare designed for attachment of the signal to the windshield 4. f Y

A tube 5 is disposed within the tube l and has telescopic connection therewith. A handle 6, connected with the inner tube 5, projects laterally therefrom through the longitudinal slot of the tube l and acts jointly with said longitudinal slot to direct the tube 5 when moving longitudinally. A socket 7 is provided at the outer end ofthe tube 5 and receives a coupling 8 to which alamp bulb 9 is adapted to be detachably fitted in the usual way. A crosshead l0 is securedl to the outer end of the tube 5 and supports a casing ll which receives the lamp 9. The casing ll preferably has the form of an arrow so as to yindicate direction. The broad lsides of the casing' ll are stenciled, the `words 'Iurn left being cut therein. The

narrow sides of the 'casing are provided with other words or matter such as Go slow or Notice, whereby to attract at tention and give warning. Current is conveyed to the lamp bulb 9 by means yof the usual electric cord 12 which passees through the inner tube 5 and leads to a suitable source of current supply in any preferred way.v n

In the practical application of the signal, the same is attached to a convenient part of the vehicle, such asl the windshield 4, by means of the clips 3, the casing 11 projecting so as not to interfere with the curtains when drawn or the top when closed. Under normal conditions the tube 5 is telescoped within the tube l and the casing 11 is withdrawn so that its narrow sides are disposed forwardly and rearwardly. When the rso driver is about to make a left turn, the handle 6 is moved outwardly in the longitudinal slot of the tube l, thereby. projecting the casing 1l and when the latter is near the` limit of its outward movement, vthe handle 6 rides in the inclined portion 2b of the longitudinal slot and imparts a one-.quarter turn to the casing 11 ywhereby its broad sides same visible. .During the day,

face forwardly and rearwardly and expose the words Turn left and during the remainder of the outward movement `of the tube 5 vand casing 11,'the handle 6 rides in the short straight portion 2a of the longitudinal slot and maintainsv the casing 1l in the adjusted posi-tion.y After theturn has been made, `the tubev 5 and casing 11 areA withdrawn, the same receiving alone-quarter turn to bring the narrow sides of the casing 11 in forward and rearward position. After dark the circuit containing the lamp 9 is closed so as to villuminate the signal and render the the signal `is readily visible and the movement therof when operated, is sufiicient to attract attention and give ample warning.

-What is claimed is: f

1,. A signal vof he class'described comprisinga signalling member having corresponding signal lcharacters on opposite sides thereof, means to project and retract the signal member, and said means serving to voperate said member to display one set of signal characters when the member is retracted and to display the second set of signal characters when the member is projected.

2. A signal of the class described comprising an inner member, across head car- -ried by said inner member, a signal mounted on said cross head, said signal having corresponding signalling characters` on opposite faces, a tube receiving the inner member and having offset longitudinal slots Vin its side, an inclined slot connecting the offset slots, ahandle projecting from the inner member through said slots, said handle cooperating-with the slots to give the signal member a quarter-turn during the time the handle is traversing. the inclined slot and moving longitudinally to project or retract lthe signal, whereby the signal member displaysl oneset of signals when projected and a second set when retracted.

3. A .signal of the class described com-l prising an inner member, a signal mounted on-one end of the inner member, a tube slidthrough 4rection transverse ofthe vehicle, means serving to operate said member to ably receiving the inner member and having a longitudinally extending slot in one side, supporting eyes having A clamps 'adapted tov engage the upper edge of a windshield, and said slotted tube received in the eyes and supported thereby, anda handle secured to said inner member and extending the slot and said tube. f 1 4. A signal of prising a signalling member having four sides and having corresponding signalling characters on opposite sides, `means to vproject and retract the signalling member, and` means associated with said meanstol give the signalling member a quarter-turn asit is projected or retracted, whereby it ,displays one set of signalling characters when in one-position andr a second set of signalling characters when in its other position. 5. A signal adapted .tov be arranged transversely of a vehicle with` the signalling member normally extending beyond* the side of the vehicle and adaptedv to be projected to extend further thereof, thesame comprising ak signalling member having corresponding signalling characters on opposite sides thereof, means.

signalling member to ydisplay one set of signalling characters when iny one position and another krset of signalling characters when in its other position. f j

`6. A direction indicator for vehicles, the same comprising a signalling member having corresponding signal characters on.y opposite sides thereof, means to slidably project and retract the signal member, said means moving` said signal member in a di.- and `said display one set of signal characters when the member is` retracted and to display a second set of signal characters when the the vehicle when the member is either in projected or Vretracted position.

beyond thel side vmember is projected, saidk signal characters 4 being. viewable fromythe front and rear `'of In testmonywhereof I afiix my signature y in presence of two witnesses;

n oHARLEs FgxELLERMN.

Witnesses: i i i i CARL S'. GRAY, Y n

GEORGE W. Coney, 

